..."He (Kozol) says segregated schools convey the message to the children there that "you have been sequestered in this institution so you will not contaminate the education of white people." Children get this message from the condition of the buildings (often "squalid surroundings")..."Wonder how this happens? How do some schools become showcases while others deteriorate within the same county school system? Skip over to Montgomery County and you can watch as the County Council this month approves numerous "upgrades" to one elementary school that can "afford" more. Here is what the Council will be approving:
• Habitat garden with seating for 35 students $17,000
• Exterior school sign with a message board $15,000
• Amphitheater at the rear of school $80,000
• Stone material for steps in front of main entrance $20,000
• Terrazzo tile for main entrance lobby $30,000
• Stone base for columns in front of main entrance and
canopy along the bus loop $4,000
• Upgrade for sound and lighting systems on the stage
within the multi-purpose room $15,000
Total Estimated Cost $181,000
• Two electronic message boards inside building $1,000
• Weather Bug Weather Station $6,500
• School graphics on the gymnasium wood floor $2,500
• Two glass basketball backboards in the gymnasium $1,000
Total $ 11,000
The total cost of these improvements is estimated to be approximately $192,000.
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These improvements were approved by the Navarro led Board of Education in a 6-2 vote* last summer. The Gazette reported on this vote in their article "School policy divides haves, have-nots". The memo from Superintendent Weast to the Board of Education can be found here.
The Montgomery County Council will hold a public hearing on the upgrades to this one school on April 21st at 1:30 PM. To testify call 240-777-7931.
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*The 6-2 vote of the Board of Education was:
Voting FOR the improvements to one school were: Mr. Abrams, Mr. Barclay, Ms.
Brandman, (Mr. Moskowitz-student), Mrs. Navarro, and Mrs. O’Neill
Voting AGAINST were Ms. Cox and Dr. Docca
According to the Gazette article: "the Terrazzo tile is making a public school look like a private school.” (Sharon Cox, BOE member)
ReplyDeleteSince when is the BOE/MCPS concerned about public schools looking like private schools? When they discussed the proposed artificial turf field at Walter Johnson HS, the private schools were held up as something to emulate. According to notes from the BOE meeting where plastic grass/tire pieces were discussed for WJ, Larry Bowers stated:
This will actually open up fields for public use. MCPS is behind everyone. Fields are safe. Private schools have them.